Grumet has a great perspective on money<\/a> and happiness<\/a> because he has seen people from every background in their final days when they get honest about their regrets, and he doesn\u2019t see much of a difference in how happy they are. \u201cI take care of people at the end of life, and I\u2019ve seen people from every economic<\/a> class,\u201d Grumet tells CNBC Make It<\/em><\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you, money doesn\u2019t seem to correlate. It really doesn\u2019t. I\u2019ve seen really, really happy poor people, and I\u2019ve seen really, really miserable rich people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key indicator of whether someone has led a good life at the end is whether they have any regrets. \u201cThe happiest people I see are the ones who don\u2019t have regrets, and the ones who don\u2019t have regrets put the energy, courage, and time into becoming who they wanted to be, whether they spent money on it or not,\u201d Grumet says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why Grumet believes that we should be careful to spend our money on things that help us grow as people. Buying a new sports car or an expensive vacation will bring you temporary happiness, but the kind that lasts comes from what Grumet calls \u201cbecoming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen you direct resources toward becoming a fuller, more intentional version of yourself, you\u2019re not just chasing pleasure\u2014you\u2019re investing in growth,\u201d he writes in Psychology Today<\/a><\/em>. \u201cIf you love writing, you might hire a coach. If you\u2019re adventurous, maybe it\u2019s a trip to Machu Picchu. When spending fuels purpose and passions, it naturally draws others to you. And as the Harvard study reminds us, it\u2019s those human connections that form the foundation of happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Harvard study Grumet mentions is the Harvard Adult Development Study<\/a>, which studied participants for over 80 years. The big takeaway was that personal connections are the key to true fulfillment. \u201cGood relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer,\u201d Robert Waldinger<\/u><\/a>, author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World\u2019s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness<\/a><\/em>, writes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investing in exploring your passions will help you grow as a person and form meaningful connections with others who share your interests. Whether that means making new friends at the runners group or connecting with other writers in your Introduction to the Novel class. Spending money on a new F350 or on jewelry probably won\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"runner,](\"https:\/\/www.upworthy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/origin_a7b97c.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSpend your money on \u2018becoming\u2019 your true self<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"camping,](\"https:\/\/www.upworthy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/origin_f70397.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPursuing your potential leads to meaningful connections<\/h2>\n\n\n\n